Bilbao recommendations

[elQuintoConyo]

Hello! Going to Bilbao soon. Apart from the obvious places, has anyone been recently and can recommend any quirky bits?

We-re doing Guggenheim, funicular, hanging bridge, Getxo (personal reasons) possibly by bike, and a trip to Gaztelugatxe. We might see the Van Gogh Experience because we enjoyed the similar exhibition of Sorrolla in Barcelona.

And we`ll be stuffing our faces with a Carolina a day!

Thanks.

I've been watching this and I am sad to see no responses. I spent some time in Bilbao many years ago and absolutely loved it. I am planning to revisit next year and would welcome any new ideas of things to see and do in addition to the old familiars..

I hope you enjoy your trip. Have a calimocho for me.

Bilbao was one of our holidays that was lost to Covid and never rearranged. We had some Easyjet vouchers that took us 4 attempts to use.

As well as a day or two in Bilbao, and Gexto, we were going to take a day trip to Guernica and also get the bus to San Sebastian so really it was a week that was a couple of days in Bilbao, Couple in San Sebastian and some other bits and pieces elsewhere.

We were there in February, really enjoyed it.
Go to La Ribera Market, they have some pintxos stalls downstairs and the proper market upstairs for locals , with great produce (meat, cheeses, fruit etc).
Plaza Nueva is beautiful - pintxos places all around, people drinking and chatting, kids playing till dark.
If you are into football/sports at all, athletico bilbao stadium has a bar overlooking the football ground, bit different.

Go to San Sebastián instead 😀

We're here now! Did the Guggenheim not very impressed tbh! Some nice installations (pop art in particular) but not worth €18. Much preferred the Madrid museums.
DH and DS walked across the Puente Colgante today, I was too chicken - and although they loved it, agreed I'd have been freaked out!! It was quite blowy up there, too.
We wandered around Algotta and went to the beach to look for crabs.
We've been tonight to Ribera market for pintxos - amazing! And Plaza Nueva the night before. Stuffed. Our. Faces!
The Artxanda park and funicular were great.
We've been catching mostly buses and seeing the city from all angles, including all along the river today.
The architecture is just lovely, some very beautiful buildings. We live in Catalunya and are just soaking up the greenery and flowers and trees!
Gaztelugatxe tomorrow and Guernika. Very excited!

I'm going in august. Like the suggestions thanks.

We've got a car as we are staying in Getxo and then going to San Sebastian for 2 days after a week in bilbao.

Did you need tk book the guggenheim in advance?

Is the beach any good in getxo?

Was planning to go to guernica but I don't really know what to expect.

Was also hoping to drive outdoor a basque country vineyard and sample /stock up. Maybe not a good idea with kids.

If you don't have breakfast included with your accommodation, this is a great place. https://maps.app.goo.gl/TSZTRUr4x8ZeBdck9

The metro card for getting around: Bartik (I think it's called off the top of my head!) like an Oyster card, costs €3, up to 10 people can travel on it, it includes metro, bus, funicular, all sorts. We went to Burmeo an hour+10 away for 84cents, then a bus to Gaztelugatxe for 34c each! Crazy cheap!

Gaztelugatxe is free, but must book a time and arrive ten minutes before. One bus an hour, from Burmeo, so better by car. Easy to find.

Guggenheim is €18 adults, under 15 (I think - you need to check) is free, but yes book ahead for August, I think you can beat the Q of people who are paying on the day.

After Gaztelugatxe we went back on the train to Gernika. The museum (€6 adults, free for DD age 12), is very humbling, very emotional visit. We went after for a mooch about afterwards and had tapas - the main placa was heaving with all ages, people enjoying themselves - it felt like a real 'fuck you, Franco' to the 1937 bombings!! It's a small town absolutely full of life, we loved it there.

We went down to the beach at Algorta (just round the headland from Getxo) and it was ok, dark river water, there were no lifeguards or flag notifying safety for swimming. Getxo beach might be an entirely different kettle of fish. Bear in mind it's the Atlantic, so might be chilly even in August.

We have all felt very safe walking around at all hours and catching public transport - nothing like Barcelona (which we know well and it teaming with scuzzy thieves). We're keeping an eye on bags as always, but it feels very safe.

Everyone has been delightful - in shops, buses, randoms explaining parts of the city, just lovely friendly people.

Enjoy in August!

Oh - Gernika museum everything is in Basque or Spanish, nothing in English except for some audiovisual stuff. There are first-person accounts which are very moving, but they're speaking Basque/ Spanish with subtitles in same languages. We're all Spanish speakers, so it was fine, but if you're not then you might not enjoy it so much.

Peace Park in Gernika was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

My old boss did the English voiceovers for the gernika museum so they must have (or have had) and english version somehow! When I went 12 years ago I definitely heard him. He also is the voice of bilbao airport!

I would add to PPs suggestions:

1. stroll round the alhóndiga
2. day trip to lekeitio (maybe combined with other fishing villages like mutriku)
3. book gaztelugatxe in advance - post game of thrones they’ve had to restrict/control visitor numbers.
4. another game of thrones filming location lesser known is the flysch in zumaia- very impressive rock formations which reminded me of giants causeway (different shape!)
5. getaria day trip if you like fashion - the balenciaga museum is amazing
6. San Sebastián for a foodie day is fine
7. body boarding or surfing!

Oh sorry @elQuintoConyo didn’t realise you were already there!

Too cold for body boarding - it was 18°c and pissing down yesterday!
We went to Gaztelugatxe cos it looked nice and the train ride out is stunning. We've never watched GoT.
We had 3 full days, one afternoon and one morning so we did mostly city, then one big day trip. We got to Gernika later than expected and I wish we'd spent more time there, there is a lot to see. We've seen the Picasso painting in Madrid and agree it should live in the Peace Museum. I think it's a story many people, especially Europeans, should know about.

We're back home now and it's effing hot and I miss the rain 😆